It is well understood that single parent families are a disadvantaged demographic group in the Australian community. However, there has been remarkably little systematic description of the extent and nature of this disadvantage and how it has evolved over time. In this paper I present an analysis of the wellbeing of single parents along multiple dimensions, drawing on both ABS data dating back to 1994 and HILDA Survey data from 2001. The findings confirm disadvantage is considerably more prevalent among single parents than the general community. Significantly, over the course of this century, on a variety of metrics, single-parent wellbeing has deteriorated relative to the broader community, and especially compared with partnered parents. Moreover, on some metrics, their wellbeing has deteriorated in absolute terms. This appears to be explained by changes in observable characteristics that are associated with lower wellbeing, but policy has also played an important role.

Roger Wilkins is the Deputy Director of the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic & Social Research at the University of Melbourne. He is also the Deputy Director (Research) of the HILDA Survey, and each year produces the study’s annual statistical report. His research interests include the nature, causes and consequences of labour market outcomes; the distribution and dynamics of individuals’ economic wellbeing; and the incidence and determinants of poverty, social exclusion and welfare reliance.

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